Coventry University (www.coventry.ac.uk) and German-based international engineering service provider FEV (www.fev.com) have signed a £30 million deal to build a clean transport lab in Coventry to spearhead research into advanced powertrain development over the next decade.

The new low-carbon technology centre will open next door to Coventry University’s recently launched £7 million National Transport Design Centre (NTDC), creating a cluster of transport-focused research and development
facilities on the university’s Technology Park.

Four ‘state of the art’ powertrain test cells will allow university and FEV researchers and engineers to test and improve performance and emissions on a range of different powertrain concepts, including hybridised, electric, conventional and alternative-fuel propulsion systems.

The new test centre represents a significant growth in Aachen-based FEV’s presence in the UK through its local engineering operation, which serves the UK automotive industry with specialist services in powertrain development and an increasing focus on vehicle electrification.

Professor John Latham, vice-chancellor of Coventry University, said: “This new joint venture with FEV speaks of lasting confidence across Europe in the strength of industry and the quality of R&D in this country.

"The facility strengthens our existing portfolio of activities in this area, building on the work we’re doing through the National Transport Design Centre and our connected- and autonomous-vehicles programmes to take our recent overall investment in transport research and development to over £40 million.”